France to buy 12 Airbus aerial tankers
By Reuters
Nov 20, 2014 11:59 PM EST
Regions
The logo of Airbus Group is seen during the first public flight of an E-Fan aircraft during the e-Aircraft Day at the Bordeaux Merignac airport, southwestern France, April 25, 2014. (Photo : Reuters)
France has confirmed the selection of 12 Airbus A330 refueling tankers for the French Air Force, Airbus Group said on Thursday.
First delivery is expected in 2018, followed by a second in 2019 and then at a rate of one or two per year, Airbus Defense & Space said in a statement.
India and Qatar are in the "final stages of contractual negotiations" for six and two aircraft respectively, Airbus said.
Airbus said France is the sixth country to order the tanker after Australia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Britain.
A total of 22 aircraft are in service, it said.
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